RAISING
HOUSES

Topics: Caring; Childlike Faith; Children; Compassion; Example; Generosity; Giving; Good Deeds; Money; Sowing and Reaping; Stewardship; Talents

References: Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 11:25; 25:14–30; Luke 10:21; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 4:12

Jackson Rogers, ten, raised enough money to put up a house for the homeless. The young entrepreneur said he took on the fund-raising project for Habitat for Humanity in February when he accepted $100 and a challenge from his pastor at First Presbyterian Church.

“My pastor gave me a hundred dollars and told me to do something good to help someone,” said Jackson, one of several congregants who accepted their pastor’s challenge. They were told to use the money for good and then report on what they did.

At first Jackson’s father was hesitant about letting his son take up such a daunting task, but Jackson was determined. “I was discouraging him from volunteering because I didn’t know what the pastor intended. But he pulled away from me and ran down there,” the father said.

Jackson knew he wanted to help a homeless family. But he wasn’t sure how to do that, so he asked his dad. What they came up with was a letter-writing campaign asking for donations to raise $50,000 to build a house through Habitat for Humanity. Jackson then wrote a letter in his own handwriting on notebook paper. “I used the hundred dollars to buy stamps and paper,” he said. He then sent out letters to friends and family.

One woman was so touched by his letter that she passed it on to several of her friends and colleagues. Soon, people from Tennessee, Virginia, and Idaho were sending in checks. The 170 people who responded contributed a total of $43,000. When the congregation at First Presbyterian learned the little miracle-worker was $7,000 short of his goal, people chipped in the rest.

“A little person can do something really good. You don’t have to wait to be an adult,” said Jackson’s mother.

—Ron Wilson, “Ten-Year-Old Raises $43,000 for Habitat for Humanity,” San Antonio Express-News (August 5, 2006)